“Y’know, Twilight, it’s almost funny. You’ve done this sort of thing a few times before… just on a smaller scale. You get overwhelmed by what you think of as a huge problem and you go completely nuts trying to find a way to fix it, but in the end it turns out there was never really a problem to begin with and everything had been under control all along.”
“WHY DO YOU OPPOSE ORDER?”
Scootaloo sighed. “I don’t. You’re just too caught up trying to solve the problem in front of you to see anything else.”
“WHAT EXISTS OUTSIDE OF THE CHAOS THAT UNDERPINS EVERYTHING?”
“There is no chaos consuming reality! There never was. Everything is in perfect working order, and you’re just too busy staring at individual spinning cogs to see the mesh of teeth connecting them all together. Every event causes another, each gear turning the next. Every one of them has to be exactly where it is out of necessity. If any part was out of order, the whole thing would be broken. But it’s not, because none of them are. The wheels keep spinning and the world keeps turning. Do you understand?”
---------------------------------------------------
“Did you hit your head or something, Twilight? Nothing you’re saying makes any sense at all!”
“How can you SAY that? You love Applejack, don’t you?”
“Well, yeah… but we’re both mares, Twilight. We couldn’t have a foal even if we wanted one. And I still have no idea who this filly you keep going on about is. None of the Crusaders are pegasus ponies.”
“She’s your biggest fan!”
“I’m sorry, Twilight, but you’re losing me here. As far as I know, there is no Scootaloo – there never was.”
Twilight’s left eye twitched.
---------------------------------------------------
Uncountable eons later, the universe came to an end. It’s somewhat impossible for that to really have any meaning, though. Matter and energy can’t be created or destroyed. The universe can’t ever end or begin. All the matter and all the energy always were and always will be. Except that they weren’t and they won’t. Paradoxically, the universe does have both a beginning and an end. But if you put enough pressure on two points...
As reality came to its inevitable and impossible conclusion, the universe reached its inevitable and impossible birth. Maybe this time, Twilight would understand. Changing history is impossible, but so are a lot of other things.
poor scoot D:
If what I think just happened actually happened, then... Well, Scootaloo's awesome.
Wow. Never thought I'd be so glad and sad to see that complete tag. This story was all kinds of amazing and crazy; made for one hell of a wild ride. Here's hoping your next story is even better!
How did I know it was going to end like that? xD I knew it would end with the universe ending. I saw no other way. xD
I can now put all my feelings about this story into one simple phrase many others have just used. WTF!!!
I...did she... wait, but that would mean... huh?
I am so confused right now.
Okay, so... It's over? Huh. Yep, I'm confused. This ending was kinda... unfulfilling. Maybe if I read the whole thing again it will make more sense...
this ending?
*twitch*
Okay, now that the story is over, this is all Trevor has to say:
WTF. That was the most ridiculous story that Trevor has ever read. Ever. Maybe if things were explained better, in more detail, or in better chronological order, it would be a really great fic, but right now? It's just a jumbled mess. Did ANYPONY understand what happened? ANYPONY? No; no one has, and that's what made this fic fail. Sorry, but an ending that NOPONY can follow? Kinda pointless story. There's just a lot more detail and everything that's needed.
~ Magical Trevor, Minstrel of Equestria
Umm, wow.... that was good.
It's like traveling across a multidimensional spiderweb that connects with itself in every direction yet never returns to the beginning due to it being infinitely large. If that makes any sense.
Hmmm, I think you have an infinite loop error somewhere in there....
In all honesty, this was amusing, but a bit painful. While I take pride in understanding all of the time traveling mumbo-jumbo - (I used labeled pieces of paper to represent ponies, categorized by timed and switched them around. Hooray visual learning!) - when it came to the spacial rending and parallel universes, I got lost. I suppose I can settle with that quantum mechanics thing about every possible outcome existing in parallel and therefore infinite universes which helps me tie in Scootaloo, but man oh man, I feel like I need a physics degree to fully understand this.
This story is pure evil. Thoroughly Entertaining, but evil.
You didn't tell us many things. Many, many things. I hope you do later... Like what happened to cause the death of or how was born. (in at least one universe)
That story leaves me with a feeling of "eh". Very clever in the arrangement of time travel and whatnot, but it resulted in a story too disjointed to have any real emotional impact on me. Maybe if I had read it all through in one sitting it would have more of an effect, but I'm not going to read it again now.
16866
Tell me, oh magical minstrel Trevor, were you not entertained? I'm not going to lie, I have no freaking idea EXACTLY what happened, but that hasn't stopped me from freaking loving this fic. Its probably one of my all time favorites, simply because I have read few other things that have made me so immersed and engaged with what was happening. This made me laugh, freak out, excited me, and entertained me and was above all fun.
Also, it really isn't that hard to understand, once you allow for the alternate universe ploy. As I see it (and I'm probably wrong), twilight discovers time travel in order to fulfill the instructions of a future event Rainbow Dash that told her she was supposed to discover it, setting off the events of the story, as they try to complete the paradox loop by fulfilling the events that logically would be applied via causality, and also to create rainbow dash and AJ's relationship because it results in the birth of Scootaloo. Twilight only had to do all this because at some point a future rainbow dash had gone back in time to ensure AJ's survival at the hands of some accident, and that was only possible because Scootaloo began the whole process by enabling that first rainbow dash to go back and alter original history and have all the stories events actually happen, and result in her birth, effectively closing the causality paradox loop. And apparently this caused a shit ton of multiple universes to start to bleed together, and so multiple universes happened, and basically Scootaloo was borne of a paradox and became a fucking Time Lord only more amazing... or something
I'm reading this shit through and through again... must make sense of it. Author, if you bother to read this, let me say that I deeply enjoyed this story. it was just amazing to read. And I'm must say, the bit at the end, about how energy and matter can never be created or destroyed, so how did the universe begin, and all the connotation that goes with that premise, and generally your whole perspective on whatever you would call the components of your story; damn was this a thought provoking mindfuck, and i've never enjoyed reading it more. keep up this great work!
16926
See we need you bronies who understand these things to spell them out for the ones who don't understand! I appreciate it Risky
....
Friggin horseapples.
Alright, let's see if I have the multiverses aligned at least.
In one universe, Rainbow Dash travels back in time, convinces Twilight to create time travel, and begins a relationship with AJ.
Later, AppleJack dies, and distraught by AJ's death, RD breaks through the time barrier to stop time travel.
This creates the split between universes.
Scootaloo is born in one universe. (IDK how)
The tear caused by RD's time travel at causes a paradox-wave that allows portions of matter to cross between universes. Scootaloo crosses universes at this time, and is left behind when the tear closes.
Scootaloo comes to realize her inter-dimentional power and using a Rainbow from one universe, allows RD to travel back in time and create the multiverse, and Scootaloo herself in the process.
And finally, Twilight(s) from the many universes, and outside of them, were more or less a footnote that Scootaloo put down before she/they actually effected anything important. (Namely, Scootaloo's birth, as explained above.)
...So...In this light, this is not a "Twilight plays with time travel" story, but rather THE MOST epic "Scootaloo: Origions," story EVER.
I'm totally going to read this again.
...Right after I sleep for the next day and a half.
This really should be longer. There are several chapters worth of exposition and explanation for the author to explore. They should, like, get on that.
This is the most fascinating Scootaloo story I've read so far. This is the most elaborate time travel story I've read so far.
My head literally hurts now, so I'm gonna take an aspirin.
Ever since I was a child Back To The Future has been a treasured favorite and I never miss Doctor Who so this story was a real treat. You had me entertained from start to finish! I loved the character progression of each unique set of Dashes, AJs, and Twilights within each of their "parabolas of doom". They reacted cannon to their true character and oh my gosh this isn't a fic about shipping, crazy Twi (which I immensely enjoy when done well ^_^b) but only the singly most E P I C Scoots fic E V A R! Lovely twist there and for those who had a hard time following I suggest a re-read with
This could use a companion side story about and !
fuuuuu- you just killed my brian.... HOW DOES THIS WORK?!?!!!!
What the FUCK is that it i have been reading this amazing story for THAT ending... Jesus Christ that was the worst ending to any fan fic ever you did not explain anything.
very disappointing
not impressed
The ending was pretty disappointing, really. But it was a good bit of mindfucking nonetheless :D
I'll be honest, you lost me with that ending. Then the comments got me back, both through the content and giving my mind enough time to digest what actually just happened. The image of the Mobius strip is quite helpful here.
In short, I think I get it. I'm not sure. You may want to throw in one last appendix just to help out those of us who didn't provide our own visual aids.
I think if you had just followed one of the rainbow dashes, twilight sparkles and scootaloos instead of switching between them, this would have been a better read
I did expect some negative reaction to the ending for a few reasons. It is not the nice little 'and they all lived happily ever after' ending that most non-grimdark pony stories end with. I can understand people wanting that. Feeling that the ending was sudden, I can see that too. The way everything constantly shifts around combined with my miraculous inability to write did quite a number on the pacing. Just plain not liking the ending, sure I can buy that.
But I really don't understand the people who felt the ending wasn't enough. The ending was, quite literally, EVERYTHING. In my quest for the most convoluted plot I could muster, I appear to have failed a fair number of readers by making it more incomprehensible than I intended.
To those of you who still want to understand the story prior to the ending and are having difficulty, think of yourself as insane Twilight. Listen to Scoot's advice. Everything works off of everything else, each gear turning the next. If you have a blindspot, but the gear you are looking at is still turning, then you know there is a functioning chain of cogs filling in that gap. ASSUME it works, and then piece together how.
To those of you who still want to understand the ending and are having difficulty, think about Scoot's cutie mark.
Totally dig it, I even understand the majority of it. The only thing I dont understand is the scooter(How it relates to the only clue that the "split from reality" twilight had to show her that they were able to get past her.) I understand the whole thing from start to end, the repeating of time travel, the sending yourself back over and over, (even the death of the second applejack), the insanity of a twilight stuck in a world of pinkie pies, and the ever suicidal rainbow dash. Hell, I even remotely understood the whole scootaloo thing with her time travel(though sad as it is to separate her like that). I cant seem to bring my self to understand the scooter >< IT ELUDES ME!
16866 I understood it just fine. I look at humanity from an outsider's point of view, so I've got practice for time. Have you ever read The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy? Time travel and its consequences are a rather prominent theme in the later books, and I think that they helped me understand it.
Sure, I had slight difficulty keeping track of which one was who and where they were when they weren't, but the actual story was easy to follow for me.
Never mind, being a good reader I went back and reread the part, even looking for her cutie mark to get an understand of what it looked like. I totally understand where the scooter comes from. I feel stupid for missing it the first time. XD
All in all super fantastic read. I love it, then again Ive always been a fan of heavy sci-fy that makes me feel intelligent when I read. Not to mention the plots and other things that just make it so intellectually challenging to read that you cant stop until you understand it.
Ow... My brain.
This was incredibly enjoyable to read, an while I am a little sorry it's over now, I don't regret the ride. Scootaloo is now most powerful pony ever, and Dr. Whooves is weeping in his TARDIS at not being the most inscrutable time lord anymore.
As for making it more comprehensible, perhaps a "Super Deluxe Chronological Edition" where all the scenes are copypasta'd into their proper order, with different colors/fonts/whatever to differentiate universes? Or don't, I liked it just fine this way, but it might appease some of the "I don't get it!" readers.
Loved it. I've been meaning to read this for a while, and I just read it in a day. A masterfully woven plot! I haven't enjoyed a good story like this since LOST. Many aren't going to understand it, but to be able to weave this around itself like you did, is very impressive. And in the end, it all starts again. Just like a mobius strip.
sonofabitch, just tried to read all of the chapters so far in one go. My Brain hurts.
This is still epic, though!
I totally get it! It was so confusing before, but this ending makes all sorts of sense, in a way I can't understand. I love you for writing this with intent and purpose, at first I thought you were purposefully trolling, but this is amazing. Thank you!
Well, gave up reading for a coherent narrative and began to read for the pure mind-f*ckery... and then Scootaloo created the mother effing universe... or looped it... Hell if I know. There's something simultaneously compelling and repulsing about a story like this... on the one hand there's the implication and hope that, somehow, there is an understandable logic to this tale, an understandable arc. On the other though, this understanding seems to be buried beneath layers of mind f*ck and the potential that, really, there is no true reading despite the author having the implied understanding or their own plot.
Still, an oddly fun ride. Just think that, mayhaps, I did want that happy ending. I tend to like them and all.
17095 it's perfect but sad
Sir I'm going to say this. I made it through 11 chapters of your story, and I have to stop reading, not because it's bad, oh no no no it's a damn good fiction, very original. But am too stupid to continue reading it, I will pick it back up in the future, but I am currently to derp to read it
Hmm.
I can't say I disliked it, but then again I've never been much of a fan of time-travel shenanigans.
After a certain point, my natural desire is to say "f*** it" and stop trying to link it together.
That's the reason why it would be very difficult for me to ever write something like this.
Then again, seeing as I am not you, this is not terribly important.
I'm getting the vibe that the joy of this fic comes not when you read the ending and see what happened in the end, but when you think about it an hour later and suddenly it clicks.
You think "Oh! That's what that meant!"
Satisfaction with a story comes when closure is obtained. It's just that this story makes you find the closure yourself, after giving you all the things you need to find it.
At least, that's my hypothesis. Maybe I'm just spouting nonsense, but hey, at least it sounded cool, right?
I... I just don't know. I've been following the story, but I think I skip every second sentence just to stop my brain from melting. I do think that you've done some amazing and intelligent writing here but... I just... can't GODDAMNREAD IT!! Without blowing up my mind of course. I'll try again one day.
To quote Princess Luna, "The fun has been doubled!"
You........this.............holy manure...............You good sir have just written the single best fic ever. That's it I can't read pony fics anymore after this due to them feeling inadequate. I can't even properly express the levels of how awesome this was reading through it all. Good sir I tip my hat to you, not since Infinite Crisis on Infinite Earths have I felt this elated or geeked out this much. Sir I thank you for this magnificent ride and all the effort you went through in making it, it is quite possibly the best story I have ever read in......well in all of my working memory.
I was intrigued and fascinated at the beginning, then I just got confused when the alt-U Twilights showed up. The ending was just kind of "meh". You might as well have just written "It all worked out in the end, I promise".
I'm sure it all works if you map things out correctly, but the point of a story is to communicate and amuse. Not to give the reader enough hints to fill in the story on their own. And especially not to handwave f/f pregnancy with "It's a paradox, it doesn't follow the rules!" You failed to communicate, and I didn't enjoy that.
I know what you're thinking: "It would all make sense if you just thought about it! You have to put some effort into reading this story!" You know what I'm hearing? "I'm smarter than you! If you were as smart as me, you wouldn't be asking these questions!" I only wish I were smart enough to send myself back in time and tell myself not waste my time reading this fic.
16866 Bitch, please! Don't sit there typing out a whiney little rag of how you didn't get it. If you didn't want to read it or couldn't understand it, nopony here was stopping you from going and doing something else. Don't rip on something just because you're unable to wrap your feeble mind around it! Dabble in all the bitchery you want, but not where love and tolerence are the norm. To put it simply: If you don't like it, you don't gotta read it.
17112 Wow, I didn't know anyone liked those obscure books where time has little meaning! But then again, most everyone seems to like Dr. Who(oves). I haven't watched it yet, it's still to manestream.
17697
I already replied to a comment of yours on EqD, but this one brings up a point that wasn't over there.
The f/f pregnancy was not hand waved. It wasn't even covered. The details of how Dash was impregnated were skipped entirely because they aren't relevant. Dash and AJ wanted a foal, and they did something to get one. This is NOT the first pony fic to have a f/f pregnancy, and there have been dozens of plausible explanations. I didn't see the need to pick one, because there were much more important factors to Scoot's origin than what biological mechanism was used.
17708
Thank you for defending me, but he or she is not entirely wrong. To some extent, I have failed to communicate correctly. Also love, tolerance, etc.
Congratulations. From the sound of it, you have just created the world's largest literary jigsaw puzzle.
17117
Good, can you please explain it, then? I get most stuff, but am still having a little trouble wrapping everything up.
And that's how equestria was made!
17716 To your reply to me: Yes, love and tolerance, peace and friendship. I guess I DID kinda explode there... eh heh... I have a slight problem with doing that, and I apologize. And to the whole f/f pregnancy thing, when a mare loves a mare, and they want foals, there's a bank where you can make a withdrawl. Or, to keep it in the family, There's always Big Mac (since I assume Dash was the birth-mother. If it was actually Aj, then I am so very sorry for saying that.) And having one parent being an earth pony would explain why - in canon - Scoots can't seem to fly well. Also: imageshack.us/photo/my-images/14/iwilltolerateandlovethe.jpg/sr=1
18199 Love and tolerance.
I think I get what's going on, at least mostly. Scootaloo existed, but couldn't have existed because Applejack died (and thus they didn't decide together to have a foal, probably through a sperm donor or Applejack herself being magically transformed) and Rainbow Dash couldn't change the past on her own. Because she was a paradox, she basically became stuck outside of time, and in that "outside of time" place, she was able to alter it. Like the time travel before, where the time travelers' actions always happened, changing time had also "always" happened, even though things looked different now, because Scoot always existed to do it. Is that about right?
The only thing I don't understand is why Scootaloo is absent in the ending. I'm guessing that Twilight thought things could be fixed by Scoot just not telling Dash about what happened, but Scoot herself knew that if she was around at all, Dash would have figured it out. Not quite sure how that would have worked out (wouldn't she needed to exist in order to stop herself from existing?), or why Twilight still remembered her, though. Could somepony please help me on this bit?
18278
Up until the ending, you're fairly accurate.
I really REALLY love the clicking feeling of things suddenly making sense and I just want to nudge you closer to it... maybe this will help. Scootaloo isn't exactly absent in the ending. Remember the bit about "something doesn't stop having an impact as soon as it's over" or whatever the exact wording was? Scootaloo's cutie mark means A LOT.
I have a feeling like my brain understands this, but also that I couldn't explain it for the life of me. Good enough. Usually I do well with time traveling stories. This hurt my brain.